Daniel Foreman — Senator Foreman moved to approve the February 11, 2026 minutes, and the motion was attributed to him in the discussion.
Daniel Foreman — The witness discusses meeting with a legislator from Utah and then addresses Senator Lakey in the room, later thanking Senator Lakey and the committee for their attention.
Daniel Foreman — Senator Daniel Foreman moves to send HCR 25 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation and then speaks in support of the motion, arguing that America faces a serious financial problem.
Doug Ricks — Identified as the Senate sponsor of HCR 25 and invited to present.
Doug Ricks — Presented HCR 25 and described the national debt as a serious problem.
Doug Ricks — Requested to yield remaining time to Lauren Ends.
Doug Ricks — Referenced as having noted that the campaign is at 28 states and needs five more.
Doug Ricks — Referenced in the closing question about whether there were any questions for him.
Doug Ricks — Larry Craig thanked Senator Doug Ricks for being willing to sponsor the concurrent resolution, praising his courage in doing so during a contentious time. The discussion then continued with a brief follow-up thank-you to Senator Ricks, keeping the focus on appreciation for his support of the resolution.
Doug Ricks — The chair invited Senator Doug Ricks to conclude the testimony.
Doug Ricks — Senator Doug Ricks identified himself as District 34 and said the deficit is a serious concern shared by those present.
Doug Ricks — Ricks said the federal deficit is $38 billion and climbing and has not tapered off.
Doug Ricks — Ricks cited historical instances of balanced budgets, including the Contract with America era and another period, saying it happened only five times in 65 years.
Doug Ricks — Ricks argued Congress lacks the will and majority support to balance the budget, and said states may need to provide a 'stick.'
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks asks the committee to send the resolution to the floor with a due pass recommendation and references H.J. Resolution 139.
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks seconds the motion to send H.J.R. 25 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Lauren Ends — Identified as leading the national campaign and expected to testify next.
Lauren Enz — Identified herself as leading the national campaign for a balanced budget amendment and testified in support of HCR 25.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow follows the witness's testimony with a question asking whether the witness's opinion would change if more states were controlled by Democrats and the convention counting were different.
Mr. Enz — The chair thanked the witness and opened questions.
Vicki Keene — Began public testimony in opposition to HCR 25, identifying herself as National Committeewoman representing the Idaho GOP and the Republican National Committee.
Ms. Keene — The chair thanked Ms. Keene for her testimony, invited questions from the committee, noted that there were no questions, and then thanked her for coming today.
Doug Tumer / Doug Tumor — Introduced himself as a retired resident of Otto Falls and founder of Stand Up for Idaho.
Doug Tumor — Doug Tumor, founder of Stand Up for Idaho, testified against an Article V convention, warning that it could not be reliably limited to a single topic and could become a runaway convention that threatens the Constitution. He emphasized that the process is too risky, comparing it to pulling a trigger that cannot be undone once started. The chair then thanked him and noted there were no questions.
Scott Perrin — Scott Perrin was introduced as the next witness, then testified that he strongly opposed the resolution and preferred it be tabled. He argued Idaho should reduce its dependence on federal dollars before supporting the measure, and the chair concluded his testimony by thanking him and noting there were no questions.
Larry Craig — Larry Craig was introduced by the chair, then identified himself as a private citizen from Boise, Idaho, and thanked Senator Ricks for sponsoring the concurrent resolution. He went on to support the resolution, emphasizing the importance of the legislative process to the country, and concluded his testimony in favor of it.
Liz Nickham — Identified herself as being from Twin Falls and questioned whether the Constitution itself is a systemic failure or whether people fail to honor it.
Daniel Murphy — Daniel Murphy is introduced as the next witness and states his name for the record. His testimony is then concluded, with the chair thanking him and asking if there are any questions before moving on to the next witness.
Tom Luna — Tom Luna is introduced as the next witness and then begins his testimony, identifying himself as from Canyon County District 9 and stating his support for a balanced budget amendment under Article 5.
students/youth — Witness says the committee will hear from students and urges members to listen closely.
Tom Munns — Introduced as the next witness; states opposition to HCR 25 and argues the Constitution already limits spending.
Liz — Referenced as having made a similar point about the Constitution and fiscal problems.
Mr. Munns — Chair thanks Mr. Munns after his testimony and asks for questions.
Mr. Munns — Takatori thanked Mr. Munns for points already raised.
Michael Law — Michael Law is called to testify and then introduces himself as being from Kuna. He states that he opposes the resolution, warning that the Constitution would be in danger.
Mr. Law — Chair thanks Mr. Law after his testimony opposing the resolution.
Mary Kay Alex — The committee attempts to connect with Mary Kay Alex virtually, but the testifier invitation appears to have been rejected.
Mary Kay Alex — The chair attempted to reconnect Mary Kay Alex virtually.
Matthew Jensen — The next witness is called to testify.
Matthew K. Jensen — Introduces himself as a lifelong Idahoan from District 17 and testifies against HCR 25.
Craig Zoburg — The chair calls on Craig Zoburg after the virtual attempt fails.
Craig Schober / Schoberg — Craig Schober/Schoberg introduces himself and challenges the committee by asking whether members took an oath of office to the Constitution. He then continues by referencing prior visits with conventions of the states, saying the idea sounded good but that his questions received no answers.
Evelyn Whiting — The chair invited Evelyn Whiting to testify, asked her to state her name for the record, and then she introduced herself, saying she speaks for herself and her generation and beginning her remarks against normalized debt.
Ryan Spoon — Ryan Spoon was introduced as the next witness and then testified in his official capacity as first vice chair of the Ada County Republican Party, stating that the Idaho Republican Party opposes an Article 5 convention. He was later referenced in the ongoing discussion about the convention process, specifically the point that state legislatures apply for the convention and Congress sets the rules afterward.
Heidi Smith Takatori — The chair called Heidi Smith Takatori to testify, and she then identified herself as being from District 9 and stated that she was testifying against HCR-25.